The Needs of Siblings of Children With Cancer

Abstract

Findings from research studies on the needs of siblings of children with cancer have highlighted the imperative that these siblings be supported and involved in the plan of care when a diagnosis of cancer is made. However, few studies have included the perspective of the nurse when evaluating sibling needs or identifying interventions used to meet the needs. This qualitative descriptive study used a combination of individual interviews and a focus group to capture perspectives from 13 pediatric oncology nurses employed at a leading Children's Hospital located in the northeast. Transcripts were analyzed for content and theme in relation to the 2 research questions. Needs identified included getting attention, wanting to know, having fears/worries, feeling at fault, wanting to help, and wanting a normal routine, whereas interventions identified included recognizing their needs, getting siblings involved, sharing appropriate information, being a resource, giving support, and bending the rules. Findings support previous studies that document the variety of needs experienced by siblings of children with cancer and offer examples of nursing interventions to meet these needs.

An integrative review of sibling responses to childhood cancer

“…Similar to the findings by Lövgren et al (2016), O'Shea et al (2012 reported that siblings did not want to be left out, and school-age and adolescent siblings often wanted to help the ill child by participating in their care. Similar to the findings by Lövgren et al (2016), O'Shea et al (2012 reported that siblings did not want to be left out, and school-age and adolescent siblings often wanted to help the ill child by participating in their care.…”

Supporting youth grieving the dying or death of a sibling or parent

“…Honest and open communication has consistently been found to help youth who are grieving the illness, dying, or death of someone close to them 12,13,19,23]. Youth of all ages benefit from living in an environment where they feel safe asking their questions and sharing their feelings about cancer, dying, death, and grief.…”

“…Many siblings of children with cancer display signs of anxiety, worry, and guilt [12]. Following the death of a brother or sister, parents have described their child's grief experience as involving anger, sadness, and a profound missing of the sibling [13].…”

“…This represents a significant advancement in the field of child and adolescent grief. Whether experiencing the illness or dying of a parent or sibling, many of the themes they expressed involved a desire to be included in honest conversations about the illness, treatment, and 12,26,27]. Youth who receive end-of-life medical information prior to the death of a parent have been found to experience higher levels of trust in the care provided to the parent than those who received no information or only received information following the death [6 && ].…”

“…The 14-session program (12 group and 2 individual sessions) was designed to promote resilience (the ability to successfully adapt to adversity) in bereaved families. The program takes into account the interconnected nature of family grief by running concurrent sessions for children (ages 8-12), adolescents (ages [12][13][14][15][16], and their caregivers. The FBP has an inclusive view of 'caregivers', including not just the surviving parent but also grandparents, friends, and relatives.…”